Researchers from the Madeira Ocean 2026 expedition have achieved a first by tagging a Blainville's beaked whale in Madeira, attaching a satellite tag that will track the animal for approximately six months. Scientific coordinator Beatriz Vinha highlighted this achievement as the primary milestone of the expedition's initial phase.
This species is seldom sighted in the region, and this unprecedented tagging in the Western Atlantic, potentially across the entire Atlantic, will enhance understanding of its ecology and Madeira's significance as a habitat. The expedition also employed other research methods, including underwater video systems and DNA collection, which identified fields of black coral.
The second phase of the expedition, concentrating on the protected marine areas of Garajau and Cabo Girão, commenced this week. The Santa Maria Manuela, the expedition's main vessel concluding on October 28th, is open to the public at Funchal Harbour, aiming to raise awareness for marine conservation.
